Electric signal for railways.



H. SMELSER.

PATENTED JAN. 29, 1907.

ELECTRIC SIGNAL FOR RAILWAYS.

APPLIGA TION FILED OCT.7, 1905.

3 SHEETSSHEET 1.

No. 842,482. PATENTED JAN-29, 1907.

H. SMELSER ELECTRIC SIGNAL FOR EAILWAYS.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 7, 1905.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

No. 842,432. PATENTED JAN. 29, 1907. H. SMELSER.

' ELECTRIC SIGNAL FOR RAILWAYS.

APPLICATION FILED 0GT.7, 1905.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

Qvihwoaw Y B Eb i *7 WK "T v I HORATIO SMELSER, OF ASHTON, NEBRASKA.

stso'rmo SEGNAL FOR FlAiLWAY Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 29, 1907.

Application filed October 7, 1905. Serial No. 281,758.

To 1:71! whom {it may concern:

Be it known that i, Hormrro SMELsnn, a. citizen ot the United States, and a resident of Ashton, in the county of Sherman and State oi'Nehraska, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electric Signals for Railways, or which. the following is a full, clear, and exact description, such as will. enalole those skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification.

The invention for its object the pro vision of means operated by a passing train that will raise in advance of the train al1eadend signal and simultaneously raise a rear-- end signal hack of the train and which will at the same time lower the head-end and reanend signals in the section through which the train has just passed.

The invention consists in the novel construction, combination, and arrangement of parts, such as will be hereinafter fully described, pointed out in the appended claims, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

in the drawings, in which. similar reference characters designate corresponding parts, Figure l is a perspective View of a section of railroad embodying the invention. Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic view showing the system of circuits for operating the signals. Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail sectional view showing the switch mechanism for connecting the termi nals oi the conductors. 4 is a sectional view on the line t 4 of Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a sectional view on line 5 50f Fig. 3. F'g. 6 is a side elevation, partly in section, of one of the signal-towers, showing one of the signalarms raised and the other one lowered. Fig.

7 is a similar: view showing the signal-arms reversed. Fig. 8 a detail sectional View sh wing the tripping mechanism for operrg the switch-plate. Fig. 9 is a similar view at right angles to the one shown in Fig. 3. Fig. lO'is sectional view showing one of the motors for raising the signal-arm. Fig. 13. a plan View of one of the towers, showing one of the signal-arms raised and the other one lowered.

Signal towers A A A oi struction are placed railroadaracl: R.

the usual conat intervals along the On the uppercnd of each tower and on opposite sides of the same are spectively. These arms are pivoted at their ends so as normally to hang vertically alo the sides of the tower. The arm B is color e d red and is provided with an electric lamp to give a similarly-colored light, and the arm C is colored white and has an electric lamp C to give a light of the same color. To distinguish the two arms further, the arm B has a cross-piece 13 near its free end. Other means may be used for distinguishing the two arms. The arm B is also provided with an auxiliary arm B projecting at right angles from the same. When the arms are raised,-they will pro'ect at right angles across the track, so as to e readily seen from the cab of an approaching engine. The auxiliary arm B can be seen from either side of a crossing, as at X, over which itmay roject. The purpose of the arm B is to indicate the approach of a train and may be termed t e head -end,signal. The pur' ose of the arm G is to indicate that a train has just passed and may be called the rear-end signal. By means of the distinguishinganarks on the arms it can be readily ascertained whether a train is approaching a particular tower or if it has just passed the same.

Train-operated mechanism is provided so that when a train passes a particular tower the head-end signal at that tower is lowered and the rear-end signal is raised and at the same time the\head-end signal at. the next tower is raised and the rear-end signal at the last .towe'r passed is lowered. As the operativemechanisms at the dillerent towers are alike, a description of one will suflice for all. An electric conductor I) extends along the railroad and is connected with a source of electricity at one end of the line, as at X, and at the other end of the line it has a ground connection, as at Y. The source of electricity also has a ground connection, and the circuit between the ends of the conductor is thereby completed. At each signal-tower the conductor has terminals D and D respectively. Adjacent to these terminals are.

I the terminals E and E respectively, of the l l l pivoted the semaphorearms B andC, re

branch conductors E, extending between the towers. These terminals are mounted on the plate F, of insulating material, secured to a suitable support. Each terminal cornprises a binding-post F, secured to the plate F, a contact F able in the binding-post, and a spring F normally pressing the contact upward.

of conducting material, mov- Switch mechanism is provided for completl to the position indicated in dotted lines, the

' ing the circuit through the different termi nals. Movable on the terminals is the plate G, of conducting material, secured to the in- 5 sulating-plate G, attached to the support G ()n the upper side of the support is the spin dle G3, with its upper end journaled in the socketG, secured to the under side of the casing Z. The latter incloses the switch to mechanism and protects it from injury and from the weather. A spring G5 around the spindle, between the socket G and the support G presses the plate G downwardly. he spring-Gr and the springs F acting is against each other, insure an electrical contact between the terminals and the plate. The springs also compensate for any irregularity in the movement of the switch-plate. The switch-plate is spring G, connecting it with a fixed part of the device. -Themovement of the switchate, asindicated by dotted lines in the said gure, is limited by the stops G and G on g 5 opposite sides of the su port G Mechanism is providied so that-the switch- ,I plate G will be moved by a passing train. shaft H is journaled at its lower endv in the step H on the floor of the casing Z, and its upper end, which projects above the casing, is journaled in the bracket H secured to the top of the casing. On the upper end of' the j shaft outside of the casing is the operatingarm H having at its outer end the roller H 5 projecting into the path of travel of the train. On the lower end of the shaft inside of the casing are the blocks H and H, respectively. The upper block H is fast on the shaitand the lower block H is loose thereon. A spring I'l connects the lower block with a fixed part of the device and normally holds its shoulder H against the stop H. A spring H (onnects the two blocks and normally holds the shoulder H on the upper block against the 5 stud H on the lower block. It. is 'obvious by means of this construction when the shaft H- is rotated in one direction, so that the shoulder H engages with the stud H, the lower block will be partly rotated; but when the shaft is rotated in the apposite direction there will be no movement of the lower block. A spring H connects the lower block H with the support (Sch-as at G". This spring is considerably stronger than the spring G", so 5 5 that when the lower block is rotated the switclvplate will also be partly rotated.

-When theswitch-plate is moved from its normal position to the one indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 3 means are provided for 6o holding it the latter position against the action of the spring G. in the stop G is pivoted the dog;- J with its fulcrum at 5. end ofthis dog projects over the support G", and the other end is pressed upwardly by the 15 spring 5 When the switch-plate is moved held in its normal posl- 20 tion, as shown in full lines in Fig. 3, by the dog engages with the pin J and holds the plate in that position until it is moved to release the same.

The semaphore-arms B and C are raised by means controlled by the train operated switch mechanism. On each signal-tower are the electric motors M and N, respectively. These motors, respectively; drive the shafts M and N. On the shafts are wound the wire ropes M and l The rope M leads to [he signalairmB, where it is secured to the shoulder M Likewise the rope N leads to the'signal-arm C and is attached to the l shoulder N. When the shafts are turned to wind the cords, the arms are raised, their upward movements being limited by the chains M and N, which prevent the arms'from being raised above the horizontal. The motor N at one tower and the motor M at the next tower are electrically connected 7 with the same branch conductor E, extending between the towers. electrically connected with the lamps B and C on their respective arms. I

Trip mechanism is .provided for releasing the switch-plate from the spring G can return the switch-plate to its normal position. lnthe side of the tower is the guideway W, and movable therein is the One weight Vt, carried by the rope W wound on the drum Vi on the shaft M of the motor M. in the lower part of the guideway is the jointed arm W on the rock-shaft W, journaled in the base of the tower. The two members of the arm (V are connected by the knuckle-joint W which permits the outer member of the arm to close on the inner member when moved upwardly, but which will prevent the outer member from' assing a straight line common to both mem ers when. moved downwardly. On an end of the rook-shaft W is the lever JV strike the dog J when the rock-shaft is turned for that purpose. The arm is normally held. in a horizontal position in the guideway by the spring W", connecting the lever W with the frame of the tower. When the weight 4V descends, it strikes the arm W and turns the rock-shaft W", which causes the lever N to strike the dog J, and thereby releases the switch-plate, so that the spring G can move the latterto its normal osition.

After the weight passes the arm the latter is raised to its normal position by the spring W The knuckle-joint N pen mits the outer end of thcarm to he raised by the weight when the latter moves upwardly. A butler-spring W operates to throw the main in an upturned position.

shown in it is assumed that the tram has passed tower A and is approaching tower A. The switch in a position to arm down should it have a tendency to re-' The conductor E is also dog J, so that the The operation of the device is as follows: the diagrammatic view Fig. 2,

'G at the tower A is in Y tower.

its normal position electrically connected with the terminals D, D, and E. In passing it may be observed that the switch is always in electric contact with the terminal D of the main conductor.

assed tower A, the switch there was turned y the train-operated mechanism to connect the terminals D and E and to disconnect the terminals D and E. This cut out the main conductor D, leading to the tower A, and completed the circuit through the branch conductor E, leading When the train from the terminal E at the tower A to the terminal E at the tower A; With the connections soarranged the current passesfrom the battery K through the main conductor D to the terminal D at the tower A. There it is diverted by the switch G to the terminal E of the branch conductor E. It passes through the motor N and the lamp C at that It then continues through the branch conductor E to the tower A, where and the motor At this tower the switch G is in its normal position, so the current passes from the terminal E through the switch to the terminal D of the main conductor D, through which it passes to the ground connection Y and completes the circuit with the ground connection of the battery X. Only two stations or towers are shown in the diagramnatic view, as to show more would be more repetition. Only a single source of electricity -for the entire system is disclosed; but, if

e augmented at intervals along the line to meet the requirements. The .conductor energized the motor N at the current passing through the branch tower A andthc motor M at the tower A. The motor through the intervening mechanism raised the rear-end signal C at the.

lower A. and the motor M raised the head-end signal l3 at the tower A. The lamps in the raised arms, which. were also brought into the circuit, were also lighted. When. the motor M was set in motion, it also raised the weight W at the tower A. lVith the train in the position indicated, back of it is the raised rear-end semaphore (I at the tower .A- and in front of it is the head-end signal B at the tower A. As the current flows through the branch conductor the energized motors will hold the semaphores in a raised position until the circuit through the branch conductor is in terrupted. When the train reaches the tower A through. the train-operated mechanism, the switch G there will be thrown to disconnect the terminal l1). circuit through the branch conductor leading from the tower A to the tower i will be broken and the motors in the said circuit will be denergized. This will permit the headend signal at the tower A and the rear-end signal at the tower A to fall. The weight When this happens, the.

the terminal E it also breaks it at D andcompletes it at the terminal E through the branch conductor E, leading from the tower A to the tower A to repeat the operation of raising the rear-end signal at the tower A and also of raising the head-end signal at the tower Ah Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In electric signals for railways, headend and rear-end signals arranged at inter vals along the track, an electric motor for e Crating each signal independently of t e other signals, branch electric conductors extending between said signals with each conductor connected with the motor of a rearcnd signal and with the motor of a head-end signal, a main electric conductor extending along the track, and switch mechanism operating to complete the circuit from said main conductor through one branch conductor and simultaneously operating to break the circuit from the main conductor throu h another branch conductor.

2. n electric signals for railways, headend and rear-end signals arranged at intervals along the track, an electric motor for operating each signal independently of the other signals, branch electric conductors extending between said signals with each conductor connected with the motor of a rearend signal and with the motor of a head-end signal, a main electric conductor extending along the track, switch mechanism operating .0 complete the circuitfrom said main conductor through one branch conductor and simultaneously operating to break the circuit from the main conductor through another branch circuit, and train-operated mechanism for moving said. switch mechanism.

3. In electric signals for railways, headend and rear-end signals arranged at intervals along the track, an electric motor for op erating each signal independently of the other signals, branch electric conductors extending between said signals with each conductor connected with the motor of a rearend signal and with the motor of a head-end signal and the contiguous conductors having adjacent terminals, a main electric conductor extending along the track and having terminals adjacent to the terminals of said branch conductors, and a switch continuously in electric contact with one of the terminals of said main conductor and operating to make or to break the circuit through the other terminstl of the main circuit and through the ad acent terminals of the branch conductors. t

4. In electric signals for railways, headend and rear-end signals arronged at intervals along the track, an electric motor for o crating each signal independently of 1;- ie other signals, branch electric conductors ex? tending between said signals with each conductor connected with the motor of a rearend signal and also with the motor of a headend signal and the contiguous conductors having adjacent terminals, a main electric conductor extending along the track and having terminals adjacent to the terminals of said branch cmductors, 2i switch continuously in electric contact with the one of the terminals of said main conductor, and train operated mechanism for moving said switch to corn )lete the circuit through the other termina of the main conductor or through the adjacent terminals of the branch conductors.v

5. In electric signals for ruilwnys, electricallv-operated signals arranged at intervals along the track, branch electric conductors extending along the truck and each conductor connected with it heud-end and with tt rear-end signal, a nmin electric conductor extending aloin the track, and switch mechen- 5 ism octuutm by a passing train. to complete i the circuit through the branch conductor in advance of the train and to interrupt the circuit through the branch conductor in the rear of the train.

6. In electric signals for railways, hcztdend and rear-end signals arranged at inter vals along the track, an electric motor for each signal, branch electric conductors cxtending between the signals with each conductor connected with the motor of a headend signal and with. the motor of a rear-end signal, a main electric conduct-or extending along the track, and switch mechanism actuated by a mssing train to complete the circuit through the branch conductor in advance of the train and to interrupt the ciremcee l cuit through the branch conductor in the l rear of the train. l 7. In electric signals for'milways, heedend and re r-end signals arranged at intervals elong the track, an electric motor for l each signal, brench electric conductors extending between the signals with each con ductor connected with the motor of a head end signal and with the motor of a rear-end signal, a main electric conduct-0r extending along the track, switch mechanism actuated by a passing train to complete the circuit through the branch conductor in advance of the train and to interrupt the circuit through catch mechanism for holding the switch mechanism in the position to which it has been moved while the branch conductor in advance of the train is in circuit, and tripping mechanism operated by the interruption of the circuit in the branch conductor in l the branch conductor in thereer of the train,

the rear of the train for disengaging the cnism to return'to its original position.

8. In electric signals for railways, a tower, a signal-arm 1 tric lamp on. said signal-arm, an electric me E tor for raising ssid signal-arm, 2t branch coni catch mechanism to permit the switch'mechductor connected with said motor and said lamp, a main conductor, switch mechanism actuated by a passing train for com leting l the circuit from said main conductor t ough said branch conductor, catch mechanism for holding the switch mechanism in the position l to which it has been. moved, tripping mechl enism for disengaging the catch mechanism l from the switch mechanism, and springs for returning the switch mechanism to its orig- 1 incl position after the latter has been released from the catch mechanism. i In testimony whereof I hereunto affix-my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

VFitnesses:

A. Swnnsrnon, N. M. SMELSER.

hinged on said tower, an elec- 

